This is serious research

We have spent an unreasonable amount of time thinking about which beers go with which games. Not because anyone asked us to, but because we run a board game cafe with twelve taps and it felt irresponsible not to.

Here is what we have learned.

Light games, light beers

If you are playing something quick and social — Codenames, Sushi Go, Love Letter — you want something you can drink without thinking too hard about it. A pale ale or a wheat beer. Something sessionable that will not slow you down between rounds.

Our recommendation: whatever lager or pale ale we have on tap that week. Ask the bar staff what is fresh.

Strategy games deserve IPAs

When you are three hours into Terraforming Mars or Scythe, you want something with enough character to match the intensity. An IPA has the complexity to stand up to deep thinking without overwhelming your palate. The bitterness keeps you alert.

Our recommendation: we always have at least two IPAs on tap. The hoppy ones pair surprisingly well with long games.

Co-op games and stouts

Playing Pandemic or Spirit Island? You are all in this together. A rich stout or porter matches the mood. Dark, warming, communal. Pass the pints around and strategise. There is something about a thick stout that encourages collaboration.

Party games and cider

Dixit, Wavelength, Just One — these are the games where you are laughing too much to concentrate. A good cider matches the energy. Sweet enough to sip mindlessly, refreshing enough to keep you going through round after round.

The non-drinker's guide

About a third of our customers do not drink alcohol, and we take that seriously. Our coffee is from a local Edinburgh roaster, our hot chocolate is the real thing, and we stock a proper range of alcohol-free beers that are genuinely good.

A flat white and a game of Azul is a perfectly valid Tuesday evening. We do not judge.

One rule

The only rule is that drinks go on the side table, not on the game board. We have lost too many copies of Catan to spilled pints. We love you, but we love our games too.

Come try the pairings for yourself. Our bar staff know the beer list and the game list equally well.